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Warhammer Online begins 'reenlistment campaign' with incentives
Okay, former Warhammer Online subscriber. You've had your fun, doing things that don't involve experience grinding or inter-Realm sparring. Now it's time to come back home. Developer Mythic Entertainment has revealed that the MMO has opened its arms up to its first sons and daughters, allowing former players to come back for a free 10-day trial. During this time, trial players can access all of the game's recently added content, and can even pick up three exclusive in-game items. The offer is live right now, and will run until December 23. If you happened to delete the game from your hard drive in a fit of rage, you can re-download the WAR client from the game's official site.
Fallen Earth free trials are back in time for the holidays
Just last week on our Fallen Earth/Wild West MMO article, many of the commenters were looking for a Fallen Earth free trial. Now we're happy to announce that the Fallen Earth team is offering a 10-day free trial straight from their main site. In addition, they're also offering a 20% discount (now $39.99 USD) on all purchases of the game through their online store. Of course the timing on this promotion is well-timed with their newest Social patch and holiday event. "We've made the process of accessing Fallen Earth much easier for players," said Jessica Orr, marketing manager for Fallen Earth. "With the addition of the free trial, we'd like to invite everyone to join in the Fallen Earth holiday festivities!" So if you're interesting in sampling the wasteland excitement, head on over to their free trial page and try it out for yourself!
FilePlanet offers unlimited free trial for Age of Conan
With the Age of Conan expansion Rise of the Godslayer approaching, opportunities for new and returning players to explore the game (or revisit it) have been more frequent than usual these days. The latest offer comes via FilePlanet. If you're a FilePlanet subscriber, you can play the first part of the game for free in an unlimited trial. The offer is good until December 31st, but as long as you download before then, your trial will not expire. FilePlanet has a limited number of keys for this offer as well. As a bonus, anyone taking FilePlanet up on their offer will receive a free Enruned Kosalan Ring, which was previously an in-game bonus available for buying an Age of Conan ZBoard keyset. The ring offers melee, ranged, and magic damage bonuses, as well as a +1% evade chance bonus. The offer is available to customers in North America and Europe, and can be accessed through FilePlanet. [Edit: Apparently, this trial is available on the AoC main site as well, not just FilePlanet.]
Interview sheds more light on Warhammer Online's trial
Times have been somewhat erratic for Warhammer Online, but most everyone can agree that the switch to an endless free trial was a positive move for the game. It's almost transparent how the change came almost immediately following the changes made in patch 1.3.2 to streamline the starting experience, but it's a wise move all around and makes the game more accessible than ever before on both levels. Producer Josh Drescher recently sat down with the Zam network to talk a little more about the rationale behind the change, as well as the limitations on the experience. As Drescher points out, one of the major limits toward any sort of time-limited trial is that many players feel pressured for form an opinion in a very constrained timeframe. For more casual players, it can be almost impossible. The new move makes it both easier for players to take their time, and easier for players to try it, hibernate, and then try some of the new features as they come out. For more of the specifics, as well as a rather oblique non-answer to the question of Warhammer Online's future in light of recent layoffs, take a look at the full interview.
Warhammer Online and the perception turnaround
It's a kind of disconcerting time to be a Warhammer Online fan, let's face it. Patch 1.3.2 had a lot of people muttering quietly (or loudly on the comment threads of posts related to it) that the game is floundering for direction and trying to latch on to something to keep it afloat. This is one way to view things, but hardly the only way. Bio Break has an interesting take on it -- they're not floundering for direction, they're working hard to regain their footing. The game that was meant to go toe-to-toe with World of Warcraft didn't quite make it there, but Mythic hasn't been letting the game sink and falter. The post is specifically addressing the contorversy that came around regarding the shift to unlimited free trials within tier one, the game's introductory content. It sounds a bit fishy, but as pointed out, the shift to "unlimited free trial" has done wonders for Dungeons and Dragons Online, boosting its revenue by a fair amount. While Warhammer Online hasn't yet gone down the same road, it's clear that they're continuing to push forward with the game and find new ways to expand the gameplay experience. If you are one of the many fans whose complaints about recent developments have been less than optimistic, you might want to think about this, as the game hasn't given up the ghost just yet.
GameX 2009: Massively talks with Lee Hammock on what's next for Fallen Earth
Content, community, and epic beards ahead fair readers! When lead game designer Lee Hammock walked into the media room at GameX 2009, we immediately tackled him into a chair and demanded he answer our many questions on what's coming up for Fallen Earth. What we got (after he figured out that we wanted to interview him and not kidnap him) were answers on the upcoming "social" patch for Fallen Earth, a look at the brand new crafting skill, construction, and the camps that will be added to the game, what lies beyond Sector 3 (hint: it's Sector 4) and how much the team loves their community. So if you're interested in Fallen Earth, or are looking for a reason to get into the game, look no further than the interview that lies beyond the break! Unfortunately though, we must make a slight correction to what Lee says in the interview. Fallen Earth did send us 2,000 trial keys, but thanks to an overwhelming response, we're out of keys! This makes us sad pandas, but you can still enjoy what Lee has to say about the game, and be amazed by the hypnotic beard.
Massively's Fallen Earth trial key giveaway and in-game events
As we mentioned last week, we have quite a treat for you today as part of the Fallen Earth Halloween event. We're happy to present 2,000 trial keys for anyone interested in trying out this indie post-apocalyptic game before forking over the cash. This special trial key is good for 15 days, which will bring you through their entire Days of the Dead Halloween event, as well as our own upcoming in-game events.To get your trial key, simply visit our giveaway page and follow the posted directions. For more information on our in-game events - including a great developer interview - keep reading below.
Age of Conan reintroduces free trial
Age of Conan has seen its share of ups and downs in this first year since launch, but the ride seems to be smoothing out lately. The first expansion is on the way, new content has been offered, and the PvP side is getting some extra attention. Community manager Oliver "Tarib" Kunz even took a bit of time lately to lay out a patch timeline for players, to let them know what's coming up. Back in July, a list of "10 reasons to give it another look", included free account reactivation for two weeks.Now Funcom is issuing a similar invitation to everyone, reintroducing the free trial for players looking to try Age of Conan, and those wanting to take a second look at the new and improved game. This time they're offering 7 days of full game access, although there are some restrictions on things like trading, public chat channels, forums, and in-game mail.)If you want a closer look at what Funcom has been up to with Age of Conan lately, visit the trial website to take them up on their offer.
Champions Online lifetime subscribers get to share the love
There was no shortage of people excited about the prospect of lifetime subscriptions for Champions Online, and for fans of the game it's probably already paid off with interest. But, needless to say, some of the more financially-savvy members of the community were probably wondering how Cryptic would deal with the fact that it was no longer going to be getting a monthly payment from its lifetime subscribers.Apparently, the answer is that they're making it even easier for Champions Online's lifetime subscribers to share the love. This morning, all those with a lifetime subscription received three free buddy passes in their mail - each one good for 14 days of free play time. It's a smart move on Cryptic's part, and it's also a wonderful opportunity for the very vocal lovers of the game to get more new players interested and invested in the game. If you were one of the subscribers who took the option while it was offered, your friends, family, and (in extreme cases) pets can get a chance to get on-board with the game. On the other hand, if you haven't tried the game and know a lifetime subscriber, this is the perfect chance to get in and see what all the noise is about.[ Thanks, Pete! ]
Ultima Online's seventh expansion is now free
We have a couple of things to say to those that subscribe to Ultima Online and still haven't bought the Mondain's Legacy expansion. Firstly, get with the times! The expansion came out in 2005 for crying out loud. Secondly, you won't have to spend any cash to catch up, as Mythic Entertainment has put out a press release indicating that Mondain's Legacy will now be free and included as part of the base game client. Probably of slightly more relevance is the fact that the game's 14-day free trial will now also grant access to the expansion content, including the Elven race and several extra dungeons.No doubt this all has something to do with getting ready for the release of the brand new Stygian Abyss expansion this summer. Stygian Abyss will be the 8th expansion pack for the venerable Ultima Online and promises a playable Gargoyle race and the game's biggest dungeon to date. For anyone keen to try it out ahead of time, beta sign-ups are still being taken.[Via MMOWatch]
A Fortnight of Freedom...
I sometimes get restless in my MMO gaming and even in amiable circumstances, where a currently played title still retains my interest and has done nothing wrong itself, I still like to explore, to play the field and keep tabs on how much greener the grass is elsewhere. The list of currently available and active MMOs is a surprisingly large one, so there are always alternatives I've yet to try.So every now and then, I hit the free trial circuit, picking my way through a list of increasingly commonplace 14-day MMO Free Trials. These fortnight trial periods are generally intended as tasters, samples of what might be in store for the gamer if they decide to proceed with the commitment of a long-term service contract with the MMO publisher in question. But do these two week try-outs serve the purpose, or is it impossible to preview a multi-month gaming experience in just fourteen days?
One Shots: On the climb
As we discussed on the Massively Speaking podcast the other day, lots of players are headed back into Hyborea to check out the free 7-day trial. Hey, why not - for "free" all you really risk is time. Today's One Shots comes to us from Royale who is one such person who recently returned to Age of Conan. He writes in: I just returned to the game a couple weeks ago and this was my first run of my favorite dungeon Sanctum of Burning Souls. This is the stairway leading up to the final boss, the Acheronian Warlord. It's quite the hike to the boss, but it was worth it. This dungeon is awesome. Are you once again (or perhaps for the first time) turning to Age of Conan as home to your adventures? If you've snapped a cool screenshot from your favorite game - no matter the MMO - we'd love to see it! Send it in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the game it is from, and a description. Yours could be next here on One Shots! %Gallery-9798%
Age of Conan begins 7-day free trial period
During last week's GDC interview with Craig Morrison, the Age of Conan game director spoke with us about the future of the game and the new direction the team is taking to get new players in and old players back. One of those methods he mentioned was a free trial "coming next week". The prophecy has come true, and the Age of Conan free trial giveaways have begun!You can head over to the AoC main site to download your very own 7-day trial (and promotional video), or look for site-specific trials popping up on various MMO fan outlets. Such examples include MMORPG.com and Eurogamer whose limited free trials come with three exciting in-game bonuses: a Totem of Origins which lets you teleport back to your cultural city, a Bag of Holding which improves inventory space and an Enruned Kosalan Ring that increases the damage output of its wearer. Comment below to let us know about other promotions tied in with this free trial period.
Mythic invites old subscribers to try WAR again for free!
Were you one of the 450,000 or so players that didn't stick with Warhammer Online after release? If so, you might not want to pass up this deal! Mythic is inviting all subscribers who quit WAR more than 30-days ago to give the game another shot for free. This isn't a new trial account either; you will get to play your old account.This is a great deal on many levels. Mythic recently consolidated 40 low-population servers into 16 stronger ones and launched a free trial (meaning you will have people to play with). They have also made huge game improvements since you left. The early tiers are reinvigorated with the release of the Slayer and Choppa careers. As if the conditions weren't ideal enough, you will also receive special buffs that increase your XP, renown, and gold, a few new quests, and a special item. To allow you to meet up with friends, you will receive one free transfer to any server of your choosing. All you need to do is reactivate your account and you're all set. Mythic put together a special FAQ that tells you everything you need to know. There has really never been a better time to give WAR another shot.
Mythic offering 10-day free trial for Warhammer Online
In an attempt to rally support for its flagship MMO, EA Mythic is offering new recruits a 10-day free trial of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. The promotion is being offered as a companion event to the game's Bitter Rivals "live expansion," which will allow new players to create characters assigned to the two new classes, the Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer. If you find yourself particularly compelled by WAR's Realm vs. Realm gameplay, you can upgrade your account with a full subscription, and carry your trial characters over to the permanent account for further adventures. If it's not your cup of tea, it'll at least provide a suitable, frugal distraction for a little over a week.Download: Warhammer Online 10-Day Free Trial
WAR gets an "official" free trial in NA, Europe, and Oceania
Last week, we announced a free 10-day Warhammer Online trial through FilePlanet. This was a bit misleading because it wasn't technically "free" if you had to be a subscriber of FilePlanet. Two days later we announced Mythic and FilePlanet were extending the free trial offer to a limited number of non-subscribers as well. Today, we're happy to sweep away any lingering confusion by announcing that Mythic is offering a 100% free 10-day WAR trial through their official website! Potential North American and Oceanic players should head to this official trial starter page, which includes links to a quick start guide, list of system requirements, cinematic trailer, and 41MB game installer. European players can head directly to War-Europe.com and create their trial account. Anyone wishing to upgrade free trial accounts can do so by purchasing a retail copy from their favorite game shop and following these simple steps. Mythic also put together an official free trial FAQ page which should answer any other questions you might have. Since the enormous 1.2 patch dropped earlier this week, now seems like a great opportunity for anyone sitting on the fence to give WAR a shot for free.
Peggle Nights out for Mac, leisure time at risk
Peggle Nights is now out for Mac. The game costs $19.95 (there's a 60-min free trial available if you just want to check it out), and is as addictive as crack cocaine covered in sugar, drizzled with chocolate, and floating in original formula Coca-Cola. It should probably be illegal for PopCap to release games -- any court would convict them of the mass murder of free time around the world.Don't believe us? Patrick Klepek over at the MTV Multiplayer blog tried out the game when it showed up on his desk, and let's just say he doesn't have that job any more. Of course, that's unrelated (we think), but still -- PopCap makes some addictive videogames, and Peggle is at the top of the list. Play with caution. And don't forget that the iPhone version of the game is still due out sometime this month.
WAR's trial key offer extended to non-subscribers
Two days ago, we got word of a new 10-day free trial offer from Mythic and Warhammer Online. This promotion was originally only for subscribers who wanted to come back and try the game again, but today it has been announced that Mythic and FilePlanet will offer a limited number of these 10-day trial keys for non-subscribers as well.That's right, if you've been curious about the game but never actually took the plunge, you can have yourself a field day (or 10) absolutely free. Our previous post gave a good bit of info on the trial terms, but if you find yourself unsure, check out the complete Free Trial FAQ at Mythic's website.[Thanks Yulian]
Mythic announces free 10-day WAR trials on FilePlanet
Mythic just announced free 10-day trials for Warhammer Online through FilePlanet, which is available to Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and U.S. residents only. Up until now, the only way to try WAR for free was if you received an invitation from Mythic's Recruit-a-Friend program. For a limited time, anyone to takes the free trial through FilePlanet will also receive $5.00 off the full purchase on Direct2Drive.You can download the trial here. The trial will expire 10 days after you activate your account, even if you don't log in. Trial accounts are restricted to tier one and capital city zones. You may purchase items from the auction house and receive in-game mail but you can not sell items on the AH or send in-game mail (to prevent spam/bot accounts). Trial characters can only be created on designated servers. Check the official free trial FAQ for more details.It is unknown when or if the 10-day trial offer will expire. The ideal time try WAR for the first time is probably in early March once they implement the 1.2 patch. Patch 1.2 will feature the Bitter Rivals live event (many interesting tasks, a new scenario, and will usher in the Choppa and Slayer careers), fix hundreds upon hundreds of bugs, and aim to balance almost all the game's careers.
LotRO free trial keys are back for North America and Oceania
Just last week we received news that Codemasters was holding a Welcome Back Week for the European Lord of the Rings Online players, and now there's good news for the North American and Oceanic players as well. Turbine has just announced a 10-day free trial key available for download from their website. Even if you live in Europe, there are 14-day free trial keys still available for you as well.If you're thinking of using one of these trial keys to sample the game for the first time, might we suggest a few weapons from our own arsenal. Check out our LotRO category page for the latest news on the game, our new class guides for the Warden and the Rune-keeper, our low-level and high-level guides to Mines of Moria, and don't forget our Know Your LotRO Lore features!
